Editor's note: Following is the story of SARS patient surnamed Wang, from a Beijing news organization, and his fight with the disease.
I woke up around 6:30 am today, to my ninth day in hospital since I caught severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
Glancing over at my roommate Xiao Huang, a 27-year-old employee of a Beijing software company, I saw he was also awake.
After a light breakfast, a nurse at the Changxindian Hospital in southwestern Beijing, a newly-designated hospital to treat confirmed SARS patients, took my temperature - 36.5 centigrade.
It seems I am now on the mend as my high fever has disappeared in recent days. When I was first infected, I spent four days with a temperature over 39.5 centigrade.
At 8:30 am, a nurse took a blood sample and an X-ray of my chest. Then started my daily routine of intravenous drips.
Lying in bed, I can smell the fresh air coming from the open window and, through a transparent door, I can see doctors and nurses rushing by.
Before the first bottle of drip finished, my wife rang me. I talked with her on my mobile phone which has become a major channel connecting me with the outside world. Several friends and colleagues also called me in the morning.
I am recovering and feeling great these days - no fever, no headache and no pain in the chest, which are symptoms of SARS. My slight diarrhoea is lessening since taking a new round of medicines yesterday. The doctor told me that I may be released from hospital in two or three weeks.
After lunch I took some slight exercise in my room and read books before another round of drips.
In the afternoon I usually sit quietly on my bed, meditate and enjoy the peace inside.
I received several calls from colleagues and friends after dinner. Their cheerful voices are my best medicine and I think I will have sweet dreams tonight.
(China Daily April 29, 2003)
